Wire-covering machine.



W. H. TAYLOR.

WIRE COVERING- MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 1101:,1907.

Pafiented Jan. 12. 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

Wit" uses 1 W. H. TAYLOR. WIRE COVERING HAOHIHB.

nrmoxnou nun nov. 2, 1901.

Patented m. 12. 1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET B.

auwwtoz 4K- w. 11. TAYLOR.

WIBE GOVERING MACHINE.

- LPPLIOATIDH FILED NOV. 2, 1907.

909,70.9r Patented Jan; 12. 1909. V 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

anmmlov g V/ZW wit" Ma WWI? M W when" '25 by weaving or UNITED strnrns PATENT OFFICE.

\ViLLIAM HENRY TAYLOR, OF PHILADELlHlA PENNSYLM Nl/t,

A SHlGNOlt UF ONE-THIRD TO HENRY BAUER AND ONE-THIRD TO GEtJRQE B. DltlilZLlQl't, BOTH ()F YHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA.

WIRE-COVERING MACHINE Application filed November 2, 1907.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Eatented Jan. 12, 1909.

Serial No. 400,421.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HENRY Taylor, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ire-Covering Machines, of which the following is a s ecitication.

My invention relates to an im aroveinent in wire covering machines, and it has for its object to provide a machine in which a double or two-ply cover may be applied to a wire or bundle of wires simultaneously.

A, further object is to wrap or twist the said separate coverings about the wire in opposite directions.

Another object" of my invention is to provide means which may be. associated with the means for applying a double or two-ply cover to a wire for the purpose of applying by weaving or otherwise an additional covering to the said wire or to a number of said wires brought or directed together within the region of the said means for applying otherwise the. third-mentioned cover.

The machine also provided with means for applying a paste or asphaltum, or any suitable non-conducting material, to the covcred wires.

My invention resides in the details of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described in detail, and as specifically set forth in the claims,bnt it will be understood that changes in the details of construction maybe made within the scope of the claims without departing from my invention.

In order that my invention may be more readily and clearly understood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- -Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wire cov- .ering machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 isa )art section and port side elevation onthe ine 4--4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of F ig. 1; Fig. 6 is a view of the mechanism for applying by weaving or otherwise a covering to a wire or group of Wires; Fi 7 is a section on the line 77 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a detail view of the cam Wheel forming a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a bobbin. and its supportin and operating mechanism; Fig. 10 is a pan view of the slide associated with certain of the bobbins; Fig. 11 is on end view of a cam engaging bobbin support; and Fig. 12 a view of a modified construction of bobbin carrier adapted particularly for use in applying a covering of paper or similar material.

Referring to the drawings,-l designates a base or support for the mechanism of my 5.5 vire covering machii'ie- 2 designates a driving shaft supported by means of brackets 3 bolted to the base or support 1. The driving shaft is provided with a driving or power wheel i. The wire 0 to be covered is wound upon a drum 5, which is revolubly supported upon the upright 6 connected to the base support 1. The wire 7 extends and is guided over a roll 8 located at the upper end of an upright 9 upon the base 1. The wire then passes through the region of the wire covering mechanism consisting of the revoluble bobbin carriers 15 and 16. These bobbin carriers are located out of alineinent and are adapted to carry bobbins 17, which are supported upon rods 18, which pass through and are connected to portions of the bobbin carriers.

In the construction shown, each of the bobbin carriers consists of a yoke-shaped as vice between. the legs of which the bobbins are supported. One of the sides of each of the yohes is bent inwardly, as indicated at 19, and the inwardly extended portion is rovided with a groove or depression 20. Tliese a0 grooves or depressions in th two bobbin carriers are in horizontal alintnient and the wire to be covered rests therein and passes therethrough, the bobbins being revolved about the said wire, preferably as an axis of 9s revolution. The other side of the yokeshapcd bobbin carrier 15 is connected to a beveled gear 21, while the other side of the bobbin carrier 16 is connected to the beveled gear 22. These beveled gears are revolubly supported upon the up Jer end of the upright post or standard 23, w ich is removably secured to the base 1. In. the construction shown, the gears 21 and 22 and their associated bobbin carriers are secured reinovably upon the opposite ends of a rod 25 passing through the upper end of the post 23, the said gears and bobbin carriers being held thereon by means of nutsand washers 26 and 27. The said beveled gears 21 and 22, 110

is driven b 1 the driving beveled gear 29- secured to t 1e shaft 2.

The bottom portion of each of the yokesha ed bobbin carriers and 16 is provided wit holes 30-and 31 and the portion of the said bobbin carriers at 19 is also provided with a hole 32. The thread from the respective bobbins in the said carriers is carried through the respective holes 30, 31 and 32 and is then secured or connected to the wire 7 which is to be covered. The wire to be covered passes throu h a hole through the rod 25 upon which the gears 21 and 22 and their associated arts are revolubly supported. If the said gears 21 and 22 and their associated parts are su orted in some other manner thou ht desirali e, the perforation will be provi ed at a point preferably coincident with the axis of revolution of the said members including the bobbin carriers, so that the Wire to be covered will be located coincident with the axis of revolution.

It will be seen that by the mechanism described, the threads of the bobbins 17 are After the wire has been covered by the mechanism described, it may pass over a roller 40 supported upon a post or standard 41 and thence through the mechanism for weaving or otherwise applying a third cover to the said wire. The mechanism for this purpose is supported upon a removable or detachablc iipright support 43, and if desired the mechanism itself may be detachab] y sccured to the upright 43.

45 designates a plate or similar member which is secured to a slotted frame plate or similar member 46, by means of bolts 47. These bolts extend through the plate and are provided with nuts upon their o 'iposito ends upon the outside of the respective mean bers 45 and 4.6. The plates or similar members 45 and 46 are SGPtll'tltOlt or spaced apart by means of nuts 48 located upon the said bolts 4'. intermediate the said plates. lhc plates or equivalent members 45 and 46 are stationarily secured to and supported upon the rod 49, which is secured to the upper end of the post or standard 43. The plates or members 45 and 46 and the said post or standard t are clamped together by means of nuts 50 which have scrcw-thrcmlcd on gagemcnt with the opposite ends of the rod 49.

5t designates a cam wheel revolnbly mounted upon the rod 49, which wheel is provided with gear teeth, and is driven by means of a gear 56 on the driving shaft 2. The cam upon the wheel 51 in general outline is the shape of a star, as most clearly indicated in'Figs. 6 and 8 of the drawings.

In the *eonstruction shown, the cam is formed by providing a central raised portion 55 upon the said wheel of polygonal outline and the raised portions 56, which are located posite the respective sides of the polygon 5. The ortions 56 are of triangular shape and, ta en as a whole, it will be seen that the contour of the combined portions 55 and 56 is substantially that of a star. The portions 56 are separated from the sidw of the polygon 55 so as to 03m passageways 58.

Secured within the region of the triangular portions 56 upon the wheel 51 are s Indles 60, which are adapted to support obbins 61 provided with thread or other suitable material, with which it is desired to cover the 'wire. These spindles roject through a circular groove 62 in the p ate or member 46.

65 designates a bobbin spindle havin an oblong or other shaped head 66 whic is adapted to travel throu h the passageways 58 and upon the outsid e of alternate portions 56. The spindles 65 project through radial slots 68 in the plate or member 46, as indicated particularly in Fig. 6 of the drawlugs.

70 designates slides mounted respectively upon the spindles 65 so as to have pivotal movement in relation thereto. Each of the said slides 70 is provided with a groove 71 and the said slides are adapted to be fitted in the slots 68, the edges of the said slots projecting into the groove 71 upon the opposite sides of the slides 70. By this construction, it will be soon that the slides 70 and the spindles 65 are movable longitudinally of the slots 683ml radially of the axis of revolution of the wheel 51.

In the const ruction, the polygon or central portion of the rum is five-sided, so that there are live ol' the portions 56 and five revoluble bobbin *llllfll w 60. There are three of the radially reciprocating bobbin spindles 65. The proportion of the number of the sides of the polygon or central portion of the cam and of the spindles 60 lo the number of spindles us, lunvover, may be changed. For iustance, the proportion may be changed five to three to seven to live and so on.

72 designates wire springs coiled about the spindles 65 and conncctcd rcs|')cctively lo the said spindles and to the said slides 70.

The purpose ol' the said springs is to hold the lwnds 66 in proper relation to the'cain acting portions 55 and 56, so as to direct llu-ni along the pro er path in relation lo the cam. \llhoug 'i in the construction shown, the can] acting surl'urcs arc producml portions and 56 3 5 roviding the raised it will be underupon the cam wheel 51, wtOUii that ex 'ctly the same effect ma be produced by rovidin groovesin the dy oi the said wiieel 51, t c said grooves being arranged to direct the head 66 alon the same relative-path, as indicated by otted inns in Fig. 8.

It will be observed upon reference to Fig.

that the head 66 travels alternatively over and under the portions 56 and the bobbin spindles and bobbins carried thereby, and that it travels the same path or road with respect to the cam on alternate revolutions of the cam wheel 51. It will be seen that rotation of the cam wheel, therefore, occasions movement of reciprocation of each of the heads 66, their connected s indles and the slides carried thereon, in the slots 68 in the plate or similar frame member 46.

The spindles 60 carried by the cam wheel travel in a circle and by reason of the .fact that the portions 56 pass alternately over and under the spindles 65 and the parts vonnmted thereto and supported thereon, the spindles 60 which are located within the regions of the portions 56 will do likewise.

' 'i'he spindles 65, together with the parts coi'mcrted thereto and supported thereon, are 1.. .rd inwardly by means of springs conumrtcd at their outer ends to the plate or nnunbcr {$6, their inner ends resting upon the outer edges or ends of the olides 70. Preferably the said springs 75 nest in rooves 76 upon the outer edges or ends 0 the said slidcs. it will be seen, therefore, that as soon as a raised portion, that is, one-of the portions 56 of the cam. has passed under a hind 66 of a spindle 65, the spring 7 5 which may be in contact therewith, which is pressing it inwardly, occasions movement thereof eiong the slot 68 in which it may be located, uch movement, however, being controlled b d rain. Each of the spindles 65 is provid i with a bobbin 80 which is secured thereon by means of a nut and Washer 81. i inbobbins 61 may also be secured upon the smudlos ifl by means of nuts and washers 82.

"th rod 49 is provided with a hole 83 ex' ding longitudinally thereof, which prefa r is mmcidcnt with the axis of revolu- Hill of the cam wheel 51.

i'hrn it is desired to cover a wire by the use-if this mechanism, the wire is passed a i wulgjil the hole 83 and the threads or coverinc , nmterial upon upon the bobbins 61 and .60 are secured, to the said wire, and by reason of the fact that the bobbins 61 pass l inaiely under and over the bobbins 80 upon the spindle 65, the thread or other wing material is interlocked and woven u 'i the said wire.

1 s mechanism may be used to place an :dflmonal covering upon wire which has been previously covered, for instance, by

the covering mechanism, including the bobbins 17, or it may be used to cover wire which has not been previously covered.

After the wire has been covered, as described, preferably it should be drawn through a reservoir of coating paste, the character of which as a conductor or nonconductor of electricity should depend upon the use to which the covered wire is to be put. In the drawings, such a reservoir is shown at 90, supported upon the uprights 91. The wire passes over a roller 92 upon one end of the reservoir, thence under a 'roller 93 in the body of the reservoir, and

thence over the roller 94 at the opposite end of the said reservoir. The wire is drawn through the machine by means of the feeding or drawing rolls 95 and 96. The roll 95 is supported upon a shaft 97 provided at one end with a gear 98, which meshes with a worm gear 99 upon the shaft 2. The positively driven roller 95 being in frictional engagement with the roller 96 occasions rotation of the latter. The roller 96 is held in contact with the roller 97 by the levers 100 pivoted at 101 upon the uprights 102 upon which the rollers 95 and 96 are supported. Pressure of the levers 100 upon the shaft of the roller 96 is occasioned by means of weights 103 supported upon the said levers 100. The amount of this friction is varied by changing the positions of the weights 103 to diiiercnt notrhes 104 in the upper edges of the said levers. Any other suitable means may be provided for occasioning pressure between the rolls 95 and 96.

The covered wire is wound upon a drum 105 which in the illustration shown is sup ported upon an upright 106 upon the post 1. it will be understood, however, that this drum, as well as the other parts of the mechanism of this machine. may be supported in any other suitable manner, which may be found desirable. The drum 105 upon which the covered wire is wonnd is driven by means of a driving band 107, which passes over a slnnYo 108 upon the end of the driven shaft 97. the band also passing about a sheave 109 upon the shaft 110 upon which the drum 105 is supported.

1n the use of my machine. both the corcring mechanisms above described may be employed so that a covering of three thicknesses. that is, a three-ply covering, may be placed upon a wire, or on the other hand, either of the said mechanisms may be used separately and independently of the other. in some classes of work, the third covering is unnecessary and the wires may be used after having been covered lov means of either of the mechanisms described. in any case, however, it will usually be found preferable to pass the covered wire through the reservoir 90.

It should be stated here that the term ti ii wire as used herein is intended to include either a single wire or a bundle of wires moving and acting as a unit.

llcrctot'orc, so far as I am aware, it has been ncccssary in order to provide a wire havin r a plurality of coverings, that is, a two-p y or a three-ply covering, as previously described, to pass the wire through the covering machine a number of times equal to the number of thicknesses with which it may be desired to cover the wire. Usually a different machine has been employed for the application of each ply or covering. Also, so far as I am aware, it has not heretofore been the practice to simultaneously wind the thriads in opposite direc' tions upon a wire to form a. two ply covering as is done with the mechanism first above described. By reason of this construction, the wire may be covered much more rapidly and the number oi times that the wire must be handled during the proccss of covering it is very greatly decreased.

In my machine, as illustrated, I provide for the coyering of a single wire or single unit of wires, but it is to be understood that a number of mechanisms similar to that shown at the right hand side of Fig. 1 of the drawings may be arranged and supported in a circle or otherwise, and each wire or group of wires covered in a Inannctr exactly similar to that shown in the drawings, and the group of wires afterwdrds brought together and passed as a unit through the covering mechanisms shown at the center of the machine and including the bobbins 61 and 80, the entire unit group be ing covered and forming a single cable.

In Fig. 12, l have shown a modified con struction of bobbin carrier which is adapted for holding a coil of pa )er and permitting it to be twisted diagonal around the wire to be covered. The bobbin carrier 115 is supported upon the rotatable wheel or disk 11(3. The carrier extends at an obtuse angle from the wheel or disk 116 so as to support the bobbin 117 and the coil of paper 118 thereon in a plane at an obtuse angle to the direction of a wire which is passing through the machine to be covered. The strip of paper is carried through a slot 11$) in the bobbin carrier and extends to the wire to be covered. making an obtuse angle therewith so that as the bobbin is revolved about the said wire, the paper is wound about the same diagonally so that a compact and neat covering of the wire is cti'cctcd.

It is to be understood that the bobbins in my machine may be provided with tension springs to pr went too rapid rotation thereof. 'lhcsc springs. howcvcr. arc connnon and well known and arc notshown in the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, I

- claim 1 1. la a wire covering machine. means for weaving or otherwise forming a cover upon a wire unit. the said means comprisin a revolublc whccl having a cam in one ace thcucol. the said cam comprising a central polygonal figure and triangular figures adjaccnt the sides oi the said polygonal figure, bobbin arrying mcnns supported upon the said wbccl within the region of the said cam, rc im'm'ating means adaptcd to carry bob bins, the said means having a portion in engagement with the said cam. the said portion traveling alt rnatcly ovcr ditl'ercnt paths so that each of the said reciprocating bobbin carrying lllt2\llt--, pas es alternately over and under the bobbin carrying means upon the said wheel.

2. in a \\irc covering machine. means for forming a cover about a wire unit, the said meancompri ing a rcvolublc whccl or similar dcvicc provided with means for supporting bobbins and having a cam in one face thcrcot'. t hc mid cam bcing of star-shape and having pa agcways around its several points and also across the said points, reciprtwating means adapted to carry bobbins, the said mcain including a portion in engagement with the said cam, which portion is adapted to pa s alternately around and acro s the said points whereby each of the said rcciprt ating bobbin supporting means passes altcrnatcly ovcr and under the said bobbin carrying means upon the said wheel.

it. machine of the character dcs'cribed, comprising a plate or cquiudcnt member having radial slots or passageways therein. a slide mcmbcr having grooves in its opposilt sides in engagement with the cdgcs of the said slots or passagcways, a bobbin carrying dcvicc extending through the said slidc mcmbcr and having pivotal relation with re pect thcrcto, and a cam adapted to engage onc cud ol the said bobbin carrying dc\ ico.

l. in a machine of thc character described, the combination of a wheel having a cam in one l'acc thcrcol', mcans l'or occasioning rcvo lution of the said whccl, means for carrying bobbins supported upon the said wheel, a. support ing member having slots or passageways tbcrcin cxtcnding radial of the axis of revolution of the wheel, slides secured in the .-:|id slots and bring movablc therein, pivotal bobbin carrying members extending through the said vslidcs and being adapted to support bobbins or similar devices, and one end of cach ot' the said bobbin carrying members being adapted to engage the said cam whereby rcciprtK-ating movement of the Said bobbin carrying mcmbcrs and of the said slides is (x-casioucd.

F. In a machinc ol' the character described, the combination of a wheel having a cam in one. face thereof, means for occasioning revolution of the said whccl, mcaus snpportcd upon the said whccl for carrying bobbins, a

lllt) supporting member having slots or passageways therein extendin radial of the axis of revolution of the wheeT, slides secured in the said slots and being movable therein, bobbin 1:5111' 'ing members extending through the said slides and being in pivotal relation thereto. and the ends of the said bobbin carrying members being provided with elongated cam engaging devices and a spring connected to the said bobbin carrying members and the said slides whereby the said cam engaging devices are adapted to be held in proper relation to the said cam to occasion reciprocating movement of the said last-mentioned bobbin carrying devices so as to occasion their passage alternately over and under the bobbin carrying devices upon the said Wheel.

6. In a wire covering machine, means for weaving a cover upon a Wire unit, the said means comprising a revoluble com, the said cam comprising apolygonal figure, the ends of each of the sides of which are extended,

the said ends being joined together in conples to form triangular figin'es respei'rtively surrounded by the said extensions and one of the sides of the said polygonal figure, bobbin carrying means supported upon and revolving with the said cam, reciprmating bobbin carrying means supported independently of the said cam, the said reciprocating bobbin carrying means having a portion adapted to engage the said cam and contacting with alternate sides of the said polygonal figure and passing alternately over and under the said triangular figures so to occasion reciprocal movement of the said reciprocating. bobbin carrying means.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereunto signed my name this 31st day of October A. D. 1907.

WILLIAM HENRY TAYLOR.

In the presence of- LAURA KLsmrnnnnn, CYRUS N. Annnnsox. 

